Preferential permits aren’t in near future
SAMOHI Residents living just south of here will have to wait until next year before finding out if preferential parking permits are in their future.
While the City Council earlier this month approved the creation of preferential parking zones in neighborhoods near Bay and Sixth streets, city staff must ask for permission from the Coastal Commission, which protects beach access and has previously come out against preferential parking restrictions in the coastal zone — a strip of land 1,100 miles long, running from the northern border of California to its southern border with Mexico.
“We hope to be on the January 2008 Coastal Commission agenda, but nothing is certain right now,” said Ruth Harper, transportation planning associate with City Hall’s Traffic Management Division.
That’s good news for Santa Monica High School students, who will still be able to park in the neighborhood just south of their campus. It also allows more time for students and officials with the school district to work out some kind of a compromise with City Hall that could include discount parking in the new Civic Center lot, which has yet to reach full capacity.
For residents, it means another three months or more of alleged reckless driving and inconsiderate behavior on behalf of students, who neighbors contend have no regard for traffic laws and leave behind garbage or play loud music early in the mornings as they sit in their cars and wait for school to start.
“I think after begging for eight years, it is about time,” said Bay Street resident Barb Frederick. “However, we got the notice and no action has been taken. I worry that (City Hall) will drag their feet on this like have been for the past eight years.
“Bay Street was once a tranquil street that had families walking up and down it all the time,” Frederick added. “Now with over nine pet deaths this year alone and pedestrians almost getting hit, (time is of the essence).”
In the past, petitions for preferential parking have been denied, leaving the area south of Pico and west of Lincoln boulevards unrestricted while other neighborhoods were successful, pushing parking out of their area, city staff said.
The petitions, some of which were filed in 2001, were denied because of the Coastal Commission’s desire to protect beach access.
However, commission staff recently informed residents that preferential parking could be approved if city staff clearly stated that the parking demand is from the high school and not related to beach access.
With more than 3,000 students attending Samohi and only 40 parking spaces available on campus, it is easy to see why a problem has surfaced. Students who cannot or choose not to walk to school or take the bus have few options for parking. They can park at the Civic Center structure on Fourth Street or the Civic Center surface lot and pay a daily rate of $8, or they can park for free in nearby neighborhoods, much to the dismay of residents.
Students have complained that the $8 fee is too high for students to pay.
The parking problem was so bad that the council dedicated 60 spots on Ninth Street between Michigan Avenue and Pico for residents. Previously, residents shared the spots with students and local businesses, although surrounding streets were restricted for residents only.
Samohi students, at the time, rallied before the council for more parking spaces, but councilmembers refused to raise by one level the Civic Center structure, instead directing the students to take their message to the local school board.
A SEPARATE PEACE A task force was created in the 2003-04 school year and possible solutions arose from meetings with the school board members, students and Council members. But, apparently, that’s as far as it went.
Adding parking at the high school was recently discussed as part of the facilities master plan process. A draft proposal currently in circulation shows several places where parking could be added, including underneath the football field, underneath the tennis courts or on top of the current parking next to Interstate 10.
Dr. Hugo Pedroza, principal at Samohi, said there have been preliminary discussions with City Hall about using the Civic Center structure, which he believes would be the best solution for all involved.
“The neighbors would no longer have to deal with the kids, and students would have a safe, reliable place to park,” Pedroza said. “The kids are not asking for freebies, but paying $8 a day is just not a reality for most of our students.”
During freshman orientation, parents and students are encouraged to carpool or take public transit. Pedroza said the campus has not been properly designed for drop-offs and pick-ups, something that will be addressed as district officials look at making improvements.
“The city has been very helpful and we most definitely appreciate it,” Pedroza said. “In this particular case, it would be very nice and helpful to our kids to get some spots available at a reasonable price.”
Lucy Dyke, City Hall’s transportation planning manager, said it’s not a case of no parking for students, but rather, a case of wanting better parking. If students do not want to pay the high cost of parking at the Civic, they can pay a lower, monthly rate to park at the beach lots. It may be a farther walk, but it still is available parking.
“The bottom line is that when the city and the schools look at resources for education, subsidized parking is not the highest priority,” Dyke said. “Surely people would like that, but it’s not the most important thing.”
For students, it is important, especially those who do not have parents to drive them in the mornings and pick them up after school.
“People are really disappointed,” said Samohi class president Ilan Ben-Meir, who is working with fellow students on a resolution for the city to provide free parking to students in the interim until a more suitable measure .
“Homeowners do have some legitimate concerns, but we only wish we could have been included in the process,” Ben- Meir said. “The original discussion of this came during the summer and the vote occurred two weeks after we started so we really didn’t have time to organize.
“I guess there’s still hope.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 28, 2007. Read the original PDF.